Away specialists Birmingham City refused to go quietly into the night by plundering a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Leicester.

A team that has only been beaten once on the road in 2013 were spared by Chris Burke's penalty.

The substitute thumped his kick through Kasper Schmeichel's dive to level a thrilling match and rock Leicester City's hope of rebooting their play-off and promotion challenge.

And it was Blues other substitute Wes Thomas who earned the penalty, enticing David Nugent into a clumsy challenge from behind.

There were arguments that the tackle came just outside the area, and the players' momentum took them into it.

But it was what Blues deserved for their efforts and perseverance in a game that lurched from end to end.

Nikola Zigic pegged back a Curtis Davies own goal but Leicester went ahead again when Jeff Schlupp headed in with 15 minutes to go.

Then came the last gasp drama as Blues rallied for a last hurrah.

Morgaro Gomis came in from the cold for his first Blues start since February 16 and Burke, fit again after an ankle injury, returned to the bench.

Shane Ferguson was back after illness and Zigic got the nod to lead the attack, with the unfortunate Thomas dropping to the substitutes.

On their longest winless run in six years, Leicester recalled Chris Wood, who was dropped last Saturday after going eight games without netting.

A good start by Blues was undone in the 12th minute after a tale of two corners.

Wade Elliott failed to beat the first man from Blues kick and Leicester broke, through Wood.

Birmingham's Nathan Redmond takes on Paul Konchesky and Michael Keane

He switched the ball to Nugent whose low, swerving shot from distance was fisted behind by Jack Butland.

From Leicester's flag kick, which arched high into the centre of the penalty area and just cleared Zigic, the ball rebounded off a stooping Curtis Davies and past Butland.

If a little unfortunate, it was a poor goal to concede as Davies got himself into an awkward position facing the wrong way when trying to contain Wes Morgan.

It so nearly got worse for Blues when a high ball from deep kicked up on the bounce and left Paul Robinson with a dilemma.

He tried to head it back to Butland but was well short and the 'keeper's quickness to spread himself in front of Jeff Schlupp and block stopped what looked likely to be a goal.

Leicester, with three up front, were obvious in their approach. They tried to go over the top and down the side quickly to get Blues turned.

And they were coming through Blues midfield far too easily, Andy King stormed onto his own header and brought a save out of Butland from a good position inside the penalty area.

But Blues survived some precarious moments and then forced a series of chances themselves and were unfortunate not to have procured an equaliser.

Nathan Redmond, twisting, turning and running direct and dangerously, sparked Blues back into life, forcing Kasper Schmeichel into two smart saves in succession at his near post with stinging shots with either foot.

And from a series of corners that Blues forced a tremendous block by Paul Konchesky stopped a fierce goalbound volley by Robinson from flying in.

Then, after a well crafted move down the left, Zigic was unlucky when his strong header from a free-kick rebounded off the back of Michael Keane and just cleared the crossbar.

Blues responded very well to the setback and played coherent, decent football as the rain lashed down on the King Power Stadium but they just lacked that necessary killer edge as a flowing first-half came to a close.

Chris Burke celebrates his late equaliser

Redmond continued to cause problems in the second period and early on another slippery burst brought an opening for Wade Elliott whose careful left-footer from inside the Leicester penalty area only just drifted wide of the far post - another close shave.

Blues really began to turn the screw, their pink shirts flooding the last third as they probed and passed seeking an inroad.

The goal that had been coming arrived in the 61st minute following a lovely give-and-go.

Paul Caddis burst through on the right and then slipped the ball to Morrison, who trapped it under his studs as if preening, before laying it back in behind.

Caddis slithered a low cross to the far post where Zigic tapped it past Schmeichel.

But two minutes later there was a let off when Schlupp sped forward to a nudged pass down the inside left channel and cracked a rising drive high onto the near post.

In then in the 68th minute an absolutely prodigious tackle by Robinson, sliding in from the side as Schlupp was about to pull the trigger from close range after chesting the ball down, denied a certain goal.

Leicester went 4-4-2 after bringing on Lloyd Dyer and dangerman Schlupp was shifted to the right wing.

And with 15 minutes to go Blues were once more unhinged at a Matty James corner, Schlupp rising high at the near post from a standing jump to plant a header into the top corner.

Blues had wrestled the initiative, dominated and scored then allowed their hosts to regain the lead - hugely frustrating.

Wes Thomas and Chris Burke came on as Lee Clark sought to engineer a salvage job. But Leicester were about to see things out when Nugent clumsily fouled Thomas and Burke stuck the penalty away.